EZRider

The Knysna forest.

Hi Kranswurm, that wolkberg ride is great although very technical and steep. If you are keen come up on a weekend and I will organise a trip up the mountain!

Hi Thug, we also host the Magoebaskloof challenge in May each year. This year there was a road event and a 45 km MTB event but from next year there will be a 20 km, 40 km and 75 km route on the Saturday as well as the road event on the Sunday. Its going to be a great event so bring both of your bikes up and do the double. Cheers, Ray

I figured as much.

Wheels for sure, I love 105. That said: new Dura Ace for 4-5k!!!!! Where? I'll take it right now.

Awesome Nick! Muddy and hard and fantastic. Met a few hubbers, Thug on his fat bike surly (beautiful machine) and Karl. Pity you weren't here. My wife came second (that flash 29 paying off) and I managed to not come last. Hey Kosmo, how did you do? Defend your last place?

Good riding to all hubbers on Magoebas mountain tomorrow.

We do a lot of training on those tea plantation climbs. Awesome riding!

Hi Nick I am sorry to hear about your loss. Will be thinking about you on the hill. It's going to be wet! See you at Sabie!

See you all at the race this weekend. Cold beer, big mountains and maybe a bit of mud!

We will come for a beer and bring our bikes!

Sorry to hear about your misfortune, we also do not allow motorbikes or quad bikes on our properties due to bad behaviour. In general MTB riders should not be painted with the same brush as off road motor sport enthusiasts.

You are not allowed to shoot an intruder in your own house unless your life is directly threatened. Shooting a Cyclist or even threatening a cyclist with a firearm will land you with murder/attempted murder charges. Your riding cyclists off the road comment is insensitive as to our recent history here. Your warnings and threats do not paint a realistic picture of the farm owner/MTB rider relationship here. As I have said, many farmers, myself included and others I have listed, will most certainly not shoot at, threaten or ride you off the road. MTBers do not generally smoke or burn down plantations or destroy property here. They may be annoyed and may close off their farms in the future so permission is always advised. Please let us know which farm is yours so we may avoid it at all costs. If in doubt or if shot at contact me or other members of Tzaneen Cycling Club or Letaba Agri Union.

Tea plantations are back after a very dodgy few years after the land reclamation. Good to see something up and running as it sort of should. The race hasn't gone through the tea for a few years now, most of it is higher in the mountain than the old route. The start is now at Stanford Lake College who have taken over the management of the event but they have worked with David Beard, the route designer, so expect something similar to the last few years with a bit more single track in the mix.

Like kosmo says: not very technical, mainly jeep track through forestry and indigenous bush. Probably a bit muddy this weekend, but what the route may lack in technical riding it makes up for with spectacular views, awesome climbs, fast descents and sections through the second biggest natural forest in the country. It's going to be great.

Going to be wet Kosmo, it's been raining in the mountains!

Oh, and any farmer riding anyone off the road or pointing a shotgun at anyone should and will spend time in prison learning the meaning of appropriate response.

Where do you farm boosted? I am also a farmer up here and find the MTBers generally don't smoke or litter much, in fact they end up reporting fires caused by honey theft, cut fences and other problems. Us (Lakeview Estate), golden macs, quite a bit of ZZ2 and westfalia, Groenfontein Boerdery and SLM are generally very tolerant of MTB riders on our land but what boosted said is true: some farm owners get irate and its better to ask first then get everyone banned later. Even better, contact Tzaneen Cycling Club, who can give you a heads up on where to ride safely without annoying anyone.

Field will definitely be bigger. Too much climbing for me to do well so I'll be hoping to end in the middle somewhere. Hopefully close to Nick if he isn't still celebrating the Sharks next weekend!

Been raining but should dry up by next week. Tomorrow's Mooketsi marathon is another story!

You ready Nick?

Follow up with Limosine, he will definitely point you in the right (slightly less vertical) direction!

Every climb has a silver lining!

8 Day to go! 75 km, 1900 m ascent gain! hope you have brought your climbing legs... On the upside there is 1900 m of downhill!

He He, first smile I've had in days.